Events

Alliance Events 2005

A Community Forum on Homelessness

On National Housing Day, the Alliance to End Homelessness in Ottawa held the second Community Forum on Homelessness - Linking Ottawa Research with Action and Policy.

The Forum is organized by the Alliance's Research and Evaluation Working Group with the support and involvement of many Alliance member organizations.

FORUM PROCEEDINGS

9:00

Opening and Keynote Speakers

The Honourable Joe Fontana, Federal Minister of Labour and Housing
The Minister announced that the National Renovation and Homelessness Programs are to be extended. See News Release and Backgrounder on the National Homelessness Initiative (NHI).

An Affordable Housing Update & Mayor's Proclamation: Russell Mawby, Director of Housing, City of Ottawa

10:00 - 12:00

Ottawa Research Studies: Implications for Action and Policy

Click to download the Handouts and PowerPoint Presentations:

1. Framing Homelessness in Ottawa: An Analysis of Media Strategies and News Coverage: Josh Greenberg, School of Journalism & Communication, Carleton University
   Handout (DOC)  PowerPoint Presentation (PPT)
2. Discovery University: a Program Evaluation of the 2005 university level program for People Who are Homeless and Low-income in Ottawa: Vivien Runnels, Centre for Research on Community Services, University of Ottawa
   Handout (DOC)  PowerPoint Presentation (PPT)
3. Understanding Pathways Out of Homelessness - Phase 2 Findings in the Longitudinal Study of Homeless Persons in Ottawa: Tim Aubry, University of Ottawa
   Handout (DOC)  PowerPoint Presentation (PPT)
4. CHEO Housing Checkup: Housing Conditions of Children & Youth, a survey with 1360 respondents: Sarah Waterston, University of Ottawa and the Ottawa Child Housing Advocacy Initiative
   Handout (DOC)  PowerPoint Presentation (PPT)
5. Eviction and Homelessness: Understanding Eviction, Eviction Prevention and Its Relation to Homelessness, in Ottawa, Halifax & Vancouver: Kate Murray, Acacia Consulting & Research
   Handout (DOC)  PowerPoint Presentation (PPT)
6. Comparing Canadian Born and Foreign Born Respondents in the Longitudinal Study of Homeless Persons in Ottawa, Phase One Findings: Fran Klodawsky, Carleton University
   Handout (DOC)  PowerPoint Presentation (PPT)

12:30

Community Action Plan on Homelessness, 2006-2008

PRIORITY ON PEOPLE - Ottawa's plan to create "A City Without Homelessness".

Presented by: Lorraine Bentley, Rosine Kaley, Luc Legault and Carl Nicholson from Ottawa's Homelessness Community Capacity-Building Team

1:30 - 4:00

Workshops

1. Media Relations Training with Media Relations Training
   Led by John McKay, McKay Communications Consulting, working with the Alliance's Public Awareness Working Group
   
   Media relations training with a homelessness focus using the Alliance as a test case, covering such topics as how to engage the mainstream and community media, "staying on message", responding to hostile questions, influencing the direction of the story, managing media encounters to have time to collect your thoughts, etc.
   Handout (DOC)
2. Leadership training for community members who are homeless, at risk of becoming or formerly homeless
   Led by Karen Shipman and Lisa Jamieson (CMHA) working with the Alliance' s Leadership Training Working Group
   
   An overview and some practical exercises from the Alliance's pilot course for people who are homeless, at risk of being or formerly homeless to support their involvement on boards and committees in local agencies that represent their interests. The course's two parts will be described: (1) - class-based leadership skill training on topics such as public speaking, interpersonal skills, and board and committee operation, and (2) a placement on a board or committee of a local agency with the support of a mentor.
   Handout (DOC)
3. Beyond the Label
   Led by Marcia Gibson, Project Consultant, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH)
   
   This workshop will orient participants to a new educational kit that has been developed to promote awareness and understanding of the impact of stigma on people living with concurrent mental health and substance use problems (concurrent disorders). Participants will get an opportunity to experience a sampling of group activities from the kit, and find out how they can access this free resource and utilize it in their workplace and beyond.
   Handout (DOC)
4. Obstacles rencontrés par les membres des communautés ethno-culturelles d'expression française dans le secteur du Logement : Un panel Animatrice: Yarlie Telfort à Action-Logement
   Le panel : Melissa Gordon, conseillère en Logement, Darline Charles Davilma, Agente de projet, Armand Kayolo, Agent de développement communautaire et Colette Parent, Professeure en Criminologie, Université d'Ottawa.
   
   Un panel, composé de 4 conférencieres, présentera divers aspects des défis rencontrés par les membres des communautés ethno-culturelles dans le secteur du logement. La session se veut interactive et permettra aussi bien aux membres des communautés ethno-culturelles de partager leurs expériences qu'aux autres participantes de se sensibiliser aux vécus des minorités ethniques.
   Handout (DOC)
5. Medication Administration in the Shelters - Learning the 3 R's
   Led by Joanna Binch RN (EC), Ottawa Inner City Health, and Judy Taylor, PHN, Ottawa Public Health
   
   This workshop introduces new guidelines for shelter staff who are responsible for supporting shelter clients taking prescription medications while they are living in a shelter. These guidelines for staff were developed by the community health nurses who work in shelters and will focus protecting both staff and clients from problems. The workshop will not only help staff improve their skills and knowledge in this area but, will provide opportunities to ask nurses advice about the medication issues they encounter in their day to day work.
   Handout (DOC)
6. Using Participatory Strategies for Improving Housing Programs
   Led by John Sylvestre, School of Psychology & Centre for Research on Community Services, University of Ottawa.
   
   This workshop examines strategies for involving stakeholders in improving housing programs. The workshop will discuss approaches to service improvement such as practice-based evidence, benchmarking and participatory program evaluation, and contrast them with evidence-based practices. The workshop will include an in-depth examination of a participatory benchmarking study of supportive housing recently conducted in Toronto, Ottawa and Halifax.
   Handout (DOC) PowerPoint Presentation (PPT)
7. HIV 101
   Led by the Education Committee of the Ottawa Carleton Council on AIDS
   
   HIV is a major health issue facing many homeless persons in Ottawa. The best way to prevent the transmission of the virus and to support those who are already affected is through knowledge. This workshop will cover the basics of what you need to know about HIV/AIDS including guidelines to protect yourself and others from contracting the virus. This workshop will appeal to front line workers working with those who are affected or at risk of infection from HIV/AIDS as well as community members.
   Handout (DOC)